Emotional Freedom Technique

What is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)?

Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT is a therapy which involves unblocking of the energy channels in the body, by incorporating pressure methods like tapping, turning, and stimulation. It was first proposed by Gary Craig in the year 1993.

Science behind EFT

Science has proved that when the mind becomes stressed, the muscles in the body start to contract and turn tense. Additionally, the muscles start to relax only when the stress in the mind goes away. EFT is the inverse procedure, in this technique the energy centers are relaxed to help ward off the stress.

How does Emotional Freedom Technique work?

Imbalances in the energy system of the body cause negative emotions. EFT helps to restore balance and in turn suppresses the negative emotions. Techniques like EFT has been in practice since 4000 years in the Eastern countries. In the ancient Chinese traditions, around hundreds of energy meridians were known to exist.
The meridian system is a path through which the life-energy like prana (see: pranic healing) flows. The yin meridian pairs with yang meridian.

There are 12 meridians in the human body

Heart

Small Intestine

Lungs

Large Intestine

Stomach

Spleen

Gallbladder

Liver

Bladder

Kidney

Pericardium

Triple Warmer

These are the 12 meridians that are involved in the tapping process of Emotional Freedom Techniques.

How to perform Emotional Freedom Technique?

1. Focus on the negative thoughts.

2. Continue focusing on those thoughts and use your fingertips to gently tap all the energy points of the body, continue tapping as long as you wish. Ideally, 4-7 times is best.

3. Tapping while focusing on the thoughts will help you to balance your energy system. This is because the body tends to focus more on how to solve the problem rather than how to forget the problem.

Depending upon the purpose, there are different implementations of EFT, some of them focus only on the face.

How to Tap?

First, we’re going to go over the meridian points we use in tapping.

Karate-Chop Point

The outer edge of your palm, on the opposite side from your thumb.

Eyebrow

The inner edges of the eyebrows, closest to the bridge of the nose. Use two fingers.

Side of eye

The hard ridge between the corner of your eye and your temple. Use two fingers.
Feel out this area gently so you don't poke yourself in the eye!

Under eye

The hard bone under the eye that merges with the cheekbone. Use two fingers,
and stay in line with your pupil.

Under nose

The point centered between the bottom of the nose and the upper lip. Use two
fingers.

Chin

This point is in line with the previous one and is centered between the bottom of
the lower lip and the chin.

Collarbone

Tap just below the hard ridge of your collarbone with four fingers.

Underarm

On your side, just about four inches beneath the armpit. Use four fingers.

Top of Head

On the crown of your head. Use four fingers.

Difference between EFT and Acupuncture

In acupuncture technique, for stimulation of the energy meridians of the body we use needles, whereas, in EFT, we perform tapping on the energy meridians. Moreover, in acupuncture, the needle pricking is done on hundreds of meridians or energy points whereas, in EFT only 7-14 meridians are operated upon.

Benefits of EFT

Helps to relieve stress and anxiety

Relaxes the muscles

Long lasting relief

Ensures emotional well-being

Enhances physical health

EFT is performed with the assistance of practitioner who can either be a psychologist or a therapist. The practitioner helps the client to address the root cause of the problem. In an EFT session, the practitioner assists in unblocking of the energy meridians. Often times, overcoming the problem on our own can be quite tedious, therefore, an EFT therapist can ensure that the client sees through his/her goals.